Communications system having interference mitigation for non-geostationary weather satellite and associated method

Abstract

A communications system includes cellular devices and cellular base stations in communication with the cellular devices in a first frequency band. A non-geostationary satellite may include sensing circuitry operable in a second frequency band susceptible to interference from the first frequency band. Each cellular base station may include a controller and a transceiver cooperating therewith. The controller may be configured to store satellite path data for the non-geostationary satellite, determine when the satellite path data indicates interference would otherwise be experienced by the non-geostationary satellite, and implement an interference mitigation action in cooperation with associated cellular devices based upon the satellite path data indicating interference would otherwise be experienced by the non-geostationary satellite.

That which is claimed is: 
     
       1. A communications system comprising:
 a plurality of cellular devices: 
 a plurality of cellular base stations in communication with the plurality of cellular devices in a first frequency band; and 
 a non-geostationary satellite comprising sensing circuitry operable in a second frequency band susceptible to interference from the first frequency band; 
 each cellular base station comprising a controller and a transceiver cooperating therewith, the controller configured to
 store satellite path data for the non-geostationary satellite, 
 determine when the satellite path data indicates interference would otherwise be experienced by the non-geostationary satellite, and 
 implement an interference mitigation action in cooperation with associated cellular devices based upon the satellite path data indicating interference would otherwise be experienced by the non-geostationary satellite. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The communications system of  claim 1  wherein the controller implements a mitigation action comprising causing a reduction of a transmit power of the associated cellular devices. 
     
     
       3. The communications system of  claim 1  wherein the controller implements a mitigation action comprising causing a frequency change of the associated cellular devices. 
     
     
       4. The communications system of  claim 1  wherein the controller implements a mitigation action comprising causing a change of the associated cellular devices to an earlier generation of cellular technology. 
     
     
       5. The communications system of  claim 1  wherein the controller implements a mitigation action further based upon a geographic density of the associated cellular devices. 
     
     
       6. The communications system of  claim 1  wherein the controller implements a mitigation action further based upon a time of day. 
     
     
       7. The communications system of  claim 1  wherein the sensing circuitry of the non-geostationary satellite comprises meteorological sensing circuitry. 
     
     
       8. The communications system of  claim 1  wherein the first frequency band is between 24.25 to 24.45 GHz. 
     
     
       9. The communications system of  claim 1  wherein the second frequency band has a center frequency of 23.8 GHz and a total bandwidth of 0.27 GHz. 
     
     
       10. A cellular base station controller to cooperate with a cellular transceiver within a communications system comprising associated cellular devices, the cellular base station controller comprising:
 a processor and a memory cooperating therewith and configured to
 store satellite path data for a non-geostationary satellite comprising sensing circuitry operable in a second frequency band susceptible to interference from the first frequency band, 
 determine when the satellite path data indicates interference would otherwise be experienced by the non-geostationary satellite, and 
 implement an interference mitigation action in cooperation with associated cellular devices based upon the satellite path data indicating interference would otherwise be experienced by the non-geostationary satellite. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The cellular base station controller of  claim 10  wherein the processor implements the mitigation action comprising causing a reduction of a transmit power of the associated cellular devices. 
     
     
       12. The cellular base station controller of  claim 10  wherein the processor implements the mitigation action comprising causing a frequency change of the associated cellular devices. 
     
     
       13. The cellular base station controller of  claim 10  wherein the processor implements the mitigation action comprising causing a change of the associated cellular devices to an earlier generation of cellular technology. 
     
     
       14. The cellular base station controller of  claim 10  wherein the processor implements the mitigation action further based upon a geographic density of the associated cellular devices. 
     
     
       15. The cellular base station controller of  claim 10  wherein the processor implements the mitigation action further based upon a time of day. 
     
     
       16. The cellular base station controller of  claim 10  wherein the sensing circuitry of the non-geostationary satellite comprises meteorological sensing circuitry. 
     
     
       17. The cellular base station controller of  claim 10  wherein the first frequency band is between 24.25 to 24.45 GHz; and wherein the second frequency band has a center frequency of 23.8 GHz and a total bandwidth of 0.27 GHz. 
     
     
       18. A method for operating a cellular base station comprising a cellular base station controller and a transceiver cooperating therewith and within a communications system comprising associated cellular devices, the method comprising:
 operating the cellular base station controller to
 store satellite path data for a non-geostationary satellite comprising sensing circuitry operable in a second frequency band susceptible to interference from the first frequency band, 
 determine when the satellite path data indicates interference would otherwise be experienced by the non-geostationary satellite, and 
 implement an interference mitigation action in cooperation with associated cellular devices based upon the satellite path data indicating interference would otherwise be experienced by the non-geostationary satellite. 
 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18  wherein operating the cellular base station controller comprises operating the cellular base station controller to implement the mitigation action comprising causing a reduction of a transmit power of the associated cellular devices. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 18  wherein operating the cellular base station controller comprises operating the cellular base station controller to implement the mitigation action comprising causing a frequency change of the associated cellular devices. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 18  wherein operating the cellular base station controller comprises operating the cellular base station controller to implement the mitigation action comprising causing a change of the associated cellular devices to an earlier generation of cellular technology. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 18  wherein operating the cellular base station controller comprises operating the cellular base station controller to implement the mitigation action further based upon a geographic density of the associated cellular devices. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 18  wherein operating the cellular base station controller comprises operating the cellular base station controller to implement the mitigation action further based upon a time of day. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 18  wherein the sensing circuitry of the non-geostationary satellite comprises meteorological sensing circuitry. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 18  wherein the first frequency band is between 24.25 to 24.45 GHz; and wherein the second frequency band has a center frequency of 23.8 GHz and a total bandwidth of 0.27 GHz.